Former Chelsea midfielder, Juan Mata has admitted that his family and loved ones feared that Jose Mourinho could ease him out of Manchester United again.

While pointing out that they now work together at the Old Trafford, he confessed that he feared there would be a repeat of his Stamford Bridge exit when the new boss came to the club.

Mourinho had dispelled such fear by insisting that the Spaniard is part of his plan at the club early in the season.

On the second spell of the Portuguese manager at the Stanford Bridge, Mata was moved to Manchester United.

The attacking midfielder revealed that in the first few days of the former Madrid boss at his new club, those closest to him feared a repeat of that situation.

He told reporters, “The manager didn’t sit down with me, no.

“I do feel an important part of this team. Since I came to Manchester United, we had ups and downs but I always felt an important player under any manager, and I feel important now. But we didn’t have any conversations.

“It is difficult to control everything that goes out and your friends and family are ringing to know what is going on but I always told them the same thing – ‘Listen, I am the one that knows what is going on, and I know that nothing is going on.”

The Spain International further insisted that he had a healthy relationship with Mourinho, whose United team are back in action on Thursday against Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

He said, “When the manager came in, I was always thinking the same as I always have – I am going to give my best, I believe in myself and I think this can work out.

“It is a professional relationship (I have with Mourinho). That is it. That is why, when so many things were said about was going to happen when the new manager arrive, in my mind I had it clear.”